Catalytic converter and pipe assembly

Abstract

A catalytic converter and pipe assembly having a catalytic converter which includes a housing and an attached housing end. The housing end has a substantially flat surface with an opening. Mounted to the substantially flat surface is a pipe with a diameter having first and second ends wherein exhaust gas flows through the opening into the pipe. The first end of the pipe has an irregular ovoid shape and a plane that is at an acute angle to the outer surface of the pipe in the direction of exhaust flow. The catalytic converter and pipe assembly is capable of achieving a change of exhaust flow direction in a space that is slightly larger than the diameter of the pipe.

I claim: 
     
       1. A catalytic converter and pipe assembly comprising: a catalytic converter including a housing and a housing end attached thereto;   a substantially flat surface on the housing end;   an opening in the substantially flat surface;   a pipe having a first end, a second end and a bend immediately adjacent the first end, wherein the first end is mounted to the substantially flat surface so that exhaust gas flows through the opening and into the pipe, wherein the first end has an irregular ovoid shape, wherein the first end has a plane that is at an acute angle to an outer surface of the pipe in a direction of exhaust gas flow immediately adjacent to the first end, wherein the catalytic converter and pipe assembly achieve a change of exhaust flow direction in a space slightly larger than a diameter of the pipe.   
     
     
       2. A catalytic converter and pipe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the irregular ovoid shape of the first end has a major axis and a first portion crossing the major axis with a first radius of curvature greater than a second radius of curvature of a second portion crossing the major axis opposite the first portion. 
     
     
       3. A catalytic converter and pipe assembly according to claim 2, wherein the second portion is closer than the first portion to the second end of the pipe. 
     
     
       4. A catalytic converter and pipe assembly according to claim 2, wherein the major axis is parallel to an exhaust gas flow axis at the second end of the pipe. 
     
     
       5. A catalytic converter and pipe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plane of the first end is parallel to an axis of the second end of the pipe, wherein the axis is perpendicular to a direction of exhaust flow through the catalytic converter. 
     
     
       6. A catalytic converter and pipe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the opening is larger than an outer perimeter of the first end and wherein the first end is located within the opening. 
     
     
       7. A catalytic converter and pipe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the opening is smaller than an outer perimeter of the first end and wherein the first end is attached to an outer surface of the housing end. 
     
     
       8. A catalytic converter and pipe assembly according to claim 2, wherein the second portion is located immediately adjacent an edge of the housing end. 
     
     
       9. A catalytic converter and pipe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the change of exhaust flow direction is at least substantially 75 degrees. 
     
     
       10. A catalytic converter and pipe assembly according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the catalytic converter is less than a length of the major axis. 
     
     
       11. A catalytic converter and pipe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the space not much larger than the diameter of the pipe is less than 1.5 times the diameter of the pipe. 
     
     
       12. A catalytic converter and pipe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the space not much larger than the diameter of the pipe is less than 1.1 times the diameter of the pipe. 
     
     
       13. A catalytic converter and pipe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the change of exhaust flow direction is at least substantially 90 degrees.